The Husbandman and Housewife

By Thomas Green Fessenden

"The Husbandman and Housewife" by Thomas Green Fessenden. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Good Press
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 4064066071110

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Thomas Green Fessenden

The Husbandman and Housewife

Published by Good Press, 2022

[e-mail]

EAN 4064066071110

Table of Contents

HUSBANDMAN AND HOUSEWIFE.

​ THE greater part of the following articles having come to hand since the preceding pages were printed, we have thought it best to place them in an

APPENDIX.

THE

HUSBANDMAN

AND

HOUSEWIFE:

A COLLECTION OF

VALUABLE RECIPES AND DIRECTIONS,

RELATING TO

AGRICULTURE AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

...............

BY THOMAS G. FESSENDEN.

...............

Boyle has observed, that the excellency of manufactures, and the facility of labour would be much promoted if the various expedients and contrivances, which lie concealed in private hands, were by reciprocal communications made generally known; for there are few operations that are not performed by one or other with some peculiar advantages, which though singly of little importance, would, by conjunction and concurrence, open new inlets to knowledge, and give new powers to diligence..........Johnson.

---

BELLOWS FALLS:

PRINTED BY BILL BLAKE & CO.

1820.

DISTRICT OF VERMONT, TO WIT:

Seal.

BE it remembered, that on the twenty third day of May, in the forty fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Thomas G. Fessenden, esquire, of said District, hath deposited in this Office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit:

"The Husbandman and Housewife: a collection of valuable recipes and directions, relating to agriculture and domestic economy. By Thomas G. Fessenden. 'Boyle has observed, that the excellency of manufactures, and the facility of labour would be much promoted, if the various expedients and contrivances which lie concealed in private hands, were by reciprocal communications made generally known; for, there are few operations, that are not performed by one or other with some peculiar advantages, which though singly of little importance, would, by conjunction and concurrence, open new inlets to knowledge, and give new powers to diligence'. . . . Johnson."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned.

I hereby certify that the preceding is a true Copy of the record of the preceding title page.

J. GOVE, Clerk.

PREFACE.

THE following little work has no other claims to public patronage than what may originate in its utility. The author has compiled from a great number of volumes, written by men of acknowledged merit and standard authority, those directions and prescriptions, which it appeared to him might most benefit the largest proportion of mankind; and he has arranged them alphabetically, that they may be the more easily referred to in cases of emergency, or in the hurry of business Many of the articles, however, he believes have never before appeared in print, and are either derived from personal observation, or been furnished by the author's friends, with a view to publication. Several of the contributors alluded to are medical men, of regular standing, and established reputation. These gentlemen could have no other motive in affording their valuable assistance than what one of them has expressed in a communication to the compiler, viz. a wish to contribute to the ameliorating of the condition of man. The same gentleman observes, in forming these recipes I have attended solely to such as would be of use to the mass of the people. Therefore I have avoided any composition, into which any ingredients entered, which were not familiar and accessible to ​the great body of the community; and also any which might be dangerous in the hands of persons, unacquainted with the science of medicine.

It is not our wish by the following compilation to furnish weapons for quacks, or infringe upon the province of the regular bred physician. But our object is to suggest simple remedies, for common disorders, where the symptoms admit of no doubt respecting the nature of the complaint, and where the advice of a medical practitioner cannot readily or immediately be procured. On the contrary we would not advise any person to rely upon our recipes, where the disorder appears to be acute, or its symptoms equivocal, but immediately to have recourse to a regular and professed physician. The author does not pretend that his recipes are all infallible specifics in the disorders for which they are recommended. In some cases they may effect a cure, in others, serve merely as palliatives, and give temporary relief till more effectual means can be employed under the direction of a regular practitioner.

Those articles, which relate to Agriculture and

Domistic

Economy it is hoped will prove universally acceptable. Some of our readers may be in possession of better means for effecting the ends proposed by our directions. To such our suggestions can do harm, and to others they may prove valuable.

THE

HUSBANDMAN AND HOUSEWIFE.

Table of Contents

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ants.

WHEN you find ants in quantities near home pour hot water on them. The farmer when he manures his land, if he uses ashes, lime or salt sand, will not be troubled with those insects. Dr. Rees' Cyclopædia recommends boiling rain water with black soap, and sulphur, and saturating the ground with it, which is infested with those insects.

apples.

TO preserve apples for winter's use let them remain on the trees till perfectly ripe. Then gather them by hand, about the middle of the day in clear dry weather. Spread them on a floor, and let them be till about the last of November, or till there is danger of their being injured by the frost. And in dry weather remove them into casks or boxes, which have previously been made free from mould or moisture and place them in a cellar out of the reach of frost. They may be packed in dry saw dust or shavings of pine in order to ensure their preservation.

apple tree.

TO propagate apple trees sow the pumice from cider mills, digging it into the earth in autumn. The plants will come up in the spring following. The next autumn they should be transplanted from the seed bed into the nursery, in rows from two to three feet apart, and one foot in the rows. The ground for a nursery should not be very rich but mellow and well pulverised, and kept clear of weeds. The young trees, on being transplanted into orchards should be put into richer land than that to which they have been accustomed.

The best mode of setting out Apple Trees and other Fruit Trees on a light soil.

DIG a hole sufficiently large to prevent the root of the tree when it is to be transplanted from being doubled or placed in an unnatural position, and to give room for the young shoots to extend themselves. Place about the roots of each tree, together with the mould, about half a bushel of small stones, the size of an ordinary apple, or somewhat less, which will give stability to the soil, and prevent the roots from being loosened by the wind.

asthma.

TO cure asthma take of powdered columbo 2 drachms, powdered ginger 2 drachms, camomile flowers 1 ounce. Pour a pint and an half of boiling water on the above ingredients. Take four table spoonfuls of this liquor cold in the morning and at mid-day.

Another Remedy.

MIX 4 ounces of honey, 2 ounces of flour of ​brimstone; 1 ounce of cream of tartar, 1-4 of an ounce of nitre. Take a tea spoonful often.

Another.

CUT Turkey figs in half; put a spoonful of sulphur inside and eat them in that state.

barley.

TO increase a crop of barley dissolve three pounds of copperas in a pail of boiling water. Add to this as much dung puddle water as will cover three or four bushels of barley. Stir it, and let it steep four and twenty hours; when the seed is drained and spread, sift on fine lime, which fits it for sowing. Steeping the seed about 24 hours in the wash of a dunghill, without any mixture is said to produce a very good effect.

barn-yard.

A BARN-YARD should have a high, close and strong fence; be lowest in the middle, and so high in all sides that the greatest rains cannot carry away any of the manure. If not properly shaped by nature it may be done by art, and if the soil be too loose to retain the manure a few loads of clay should be spread over its surface. The cattle should be kept constantly on the barn-yard during the foddering season, and for that purpose water should be introduced. There should be several yards where different sorts of cattle are kept. The sheep should have a yard by themselves at least, and the young stock another, that each kind may have their proper sort of food.

​After the yard is cleaned in the spring the farmer should embrace the first leisure he has to store it with materials for making manure, such as swamp mud, clay, brick dust, straw, fern or brakes, weeds, leaves of trees, turfs, marsh mud, eel grass, or even sand or loam.

beans.

THE following mode of planting beans has been recommended by an English writer. The rows are marked out one foot asunder, and the seed planted in holes two inches apart: the lines are stretched across the lands, which are formed about 6 feet over, so that when one row is planted, the sticks to which the line is fastened, are moved by a regular measurement to the distance required, and the same method pursued till the field is completed. The usual price for this work is 9d. sterling per week, and the allowance two bushels per acre."

Sir John Sinclair in his Code of Agriculture recommends cutting the tops of beans in order to accelerate their podding. This eminent writer informs us that "it was begun about the year 1804, and has already been tried on more than 200 acres. The operation is performed by means of a sharp edged instrument or knife, 12 or 14 inches long exclusive of the handle; but it may be done by a sickle or reaping hook. The expense has never exceeded 3s. per acre and it is done by contract. At a certain stage of its growth the head of the bean stalk does not seem essential to the purpose of vegetation, but by its luxuriance to exhaust the strength of the plant. The proper time to cut them off, is, when the first blossoms begin to drop: if done sooner a fresh shoot will put forth. As soon as the tops are cut off the pods rapidly increase in size, and the period of ripening is accelerated, The ​timely removal of these parts, where the insects chiefly lodge, materially contributes to the health and vigour of the plant, and probably increases the weight of the crop. The harvest is by this means advanced at least a fortnight. In the ordinary mode of managing a bean crop, their tops are green when reaped, consequently they absorb and retain moisture and require a considerable exposure in the field to prepare them for the stack; whereas without their tops, the crop is sooner in a condition to be carried and less risk is incurred from the effects of frost and wet seasons. The tops are left to rot on the ground."

bed bugs.

TAKE a quantity of fourth proof spirits and as much pearl ash as will dissolve in it; put it in every crack and hole in the bed stead and wash board; also take a clean strip of linen or muslin; wet it with the liquor, and put it round the bed post close to the floor.

Or, make a decoction of sassafras bark or root, not so strong as to stain the furniture, and scald the wainscoting of your rooms, once a year.

Or, dissolve camphor in strong spirits and apply the solution.

Or, it has been said that the juice of cucumbers will destroy bed bugs.

Or, simple clear strong lime water, it is affirmed will be as effectual as any of the above.

beef.

Mode of preserving. See Meat

beer—Spruce.

TAKE a sufficient quantity of spruce boughs; boil them in water about half an hour, or till the outward skin or rind peels off; strain the liquor, and stir in at the rate of two quarts of molasses to half a barrel. Work it with beer grounds or emptyings, or rather with yeast.

Molasses Beer.

TAKE four quarts of molasses, half a pint of yeast, and a spoonful of powdered race ginger: Put these ingredients into your vessel, and pour on them two gallons of scalding hot, soft clear water;—Shake it till it ferments; and add thirteen gallons of the same water to fill up the cask. Let the liquor ferment for about twelve hours, then bottle it off with a raisin or two in each bottle.

A good Household Beer.

TAKE a heaped half peck of wheat bran, and three or four ounces of hops: Boil them a quarter of an hour in fifteen gallons of clear water: strain the liquor through a close sieve, and sweeten it with two quarts of molasses cool it quick till it is no warmer than new milk, and fill your half barrel. Warm water may be used to fill up the cask if needful. Leave the bung but for 24. hours, that the drink may work and throw off the yeast, and it will be fit for use. About the fourth or fifth day, bottle off what remains in the vessel, especially if the weather be hot, that it may not turn sour or stale. If the cask be new, or not before used for beer, apply yest or beer grounds to ferment it; otherwise it will not be necessary.

The practice which is common of fermenting our small drinks with the sediments or dregs of the same ​ought to be abandoned; for this is the foulest and most unwholesome excrement of the liquor.

To cure a butt of ropy Beer.

MIX two handfulls of bean flour with one handful of wheat flour and stir it in.

To feed and give a fine flavour to a barrel of Beer.

PUT six sea biscuits into a bag of hops, and put all into the cask.

Pea-pods in Beer.

THE pods of peas, after being dried it is said are excellent in beer, affording spirit to the